Rachel Ray & Guy Fieri to Mentor Food Network's KIDS COOK-OFF

Rachael Ray and Guy Fieri are back to battle it out for ultimate bragging rights, but this time mentoring the most talented kid chefs around, in Rachael vs. Guy: Kids Cook-Off, premiering Sunday, September 8th at 8pm ET/PT.

Over four Episodes eight children are divided into Team Rachael and Team Guy, as they compete against each other in a series of challenges, designed to test the kids' culinary know-how. In each episode, the teams participate in a pop quiz crafted to highlight their talents in the kitchen, followed by a classroom mentoring session with Rachael and Guy, and culminating in the creation of a menu plan for the Cook-Off. Guest judges, including Chef Richard Blais, Chef Duff Goldman, Jennie Garth (Beverly Hills, 90210) and Marion Ross (Happy Days), will taste and grade the dishes and give each competitor a report card.The kid chef with the highest score on each team will be named MVP of that challenge and win a prize. In the end, the junior chef with the highest overall score will win their own web series on FoodNetwork.com.

"Rachael and Guy each have true passion and dedication when it comes to working with children," said Bob Tuschman, General Manager and Senior Vice President, Food Network. "With Kids Cook-Off, they get to up the ante, and have their mentoring skills tested like never before, with the goal of insuring their team's kids all succeed in the kitchen."

The "Cook-Off" competition will continue in the New Year as well, with Rachael and Guy returning to coach a new star-studded cast of celebrities in the new season of Rachael vs. Guy: Celebrity Cook-Off.

Episodes include:

Premiering Sunday, September 8th at 8pm ET/PT
"These Kids Can Cook"
Rachael Ray and Guy Fieri meet eight rising kid-chefs as their parents watch on from the Parents Lounge. After Rachael and Guy choose their teams, the kids are immediately given a Pop Quiz: create a signature dish that best expresses their culinary skills. Following tasting and critique, Guy and Rachael mentor their teams on culinary secrets and skills before the First Lady, Michelle Obama, makes a very special surprise video announcement explaining the Cook-Off Challenge. Each team is challenged with creating a fresh, healthy and delicious lunch to be tasted by special guest judge and teen star Stefanie Scott (Wreck It Ralph, A.N.T. Farm). Stefanie will give each kid a report card and select an MVP from each team who will win a cool prize, but the kid with the most points overall will be closer to the grand prize, landing their own web series on FoodNetwork.com.

Premiering Sunday, September 15th at 8pm ET/PT
"The Great Juggling Act"
Rachael and Guy coach their teams of kid chefs on one of the toughest elements to pulling off a great meal - timing. For their Pop Quiz, each kid will go head-to-head against a kid from the opposing team to create a time sensitive meal. Timing is critical because the star ingredients they must use are all notoriously unforgiving. If they can pull it off, they will be primed for their Cook-Off Challenge: creating a beautiful brunch for one of TV's most iconic moms, Marion Ross (Happy Days). Only a really buttoned-up team will be able to pull off a perfect plate for Mrs. Cunningham.

Premiering Sunday, September 22nd at 8pm ET/PT
"Mighty Mash-Up Match Up"
Bringing the flavor is key to any dish, but Rachael and Guy up the ante by mashing up Unforgettable tastes in creative ways. For their Pop Quiz, the kids square-off against each other as they try to guess a series of crazy mashed-up bites while blindfolded. This preps the kids for their Cook-Off Challenge inspired by the new Sony Pictures Animation film, Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs 2. Like in the movie, the kids must create extreme food mash-ups that look great and taste even better. With a special guest judge appearance by Chef Duff Goldman, all eyes will be on the leaderboard as we tally the points for each kid, select episode MVPs and head into the Finale.

Premiering Sunday, September 29th at 8pm ET/PT
"Grand Finale Fake-Out"
Everything culminates in the Finale, where the star kid chefs must use the lessons they learned from Rachael and Guy to prep a family-style dinner forhigh-profile judges, including Chefs Richard Blais, Jack Lee, Antonia Lofaso, Eric Greenspan, Food Network's Melissa d'Arabian and TV star Jennie Garth. What the judges don't know is their meal has not been made by adults, it was crafted by KIDS! After menu planning and coaching, the kids dive right into cooking with their eyes on the grand prize. Everyone walks away improved as a rising chef, but only one kid will land their own web series to debut on FoodNetwork.com.

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